“Where are you going,” Angelus murmured as Buffy slid out of their bed. 

“We’re having breakfast with Willow,” she told him as she wrapped her robe around her body. “Then the Ministers convene, there’s the welcome back celebration we have to plan, and the official meeting with the Continuum.” 

Angelus sat up, stunned. Reaching out as Buffy walked past him, still talking about the annual ball the court would insist he attend, now that he was  back, and something else he turned out, he tugged her forward onto his lap. “All of which can wait,” he said as his mouth crushed hers. 

For several pleasurable moments Buffy kissed him back, sinking into the feel of his body against hers. Reluctantly pulling away, she caressed his face with a hand, standing as she did so. “Baby, we can’t. Not the day after your return. I’ve worked long and hard to ensure no one questioned either your absence or my presence here; we can’t afford them to start now, not when you’ve just returned.” 

He growled and pulled her back, turning so she was under him, pressed into the soft bed. “They can wait.” Angelus growled and proceeded to ravish her mouth, his hands moving the soft robe out of his way. 

Those long fingers of his pinched her nipples as his mouth continued to worship hers, yanking the tie of the robe until the material ripped out of his way. His mouth leisurely followed his hands, laving each erect nipple with his cool tongue. Buffy tried to protest, they really couldn’t afford to be late, but then Angelus bit down on her nipple, sending shockwaves of pleasure rippling through her. All thought flew from her mind and all she could do was gasp his name. 

Moving down her taunt stomach, triumphant smirk firmly in place, to her nest of curls, Angelus proceeded to show his wife how much he really did miss her. With tongue and teeth and hands, he brought her up to peak after peak, never letting one fully subside before another crashed over her. Buffy was mindless in her need, fingers clenching into his scalp, legs wound tight against his shoulders, his name a constant breathless chant from her lips. 

Slowly bringing her down, he grinned to himself as he held his pliant wife in his arms, moving back up her body with light kisses to her dampened skin. 

“Besides,” he murmured with a gentle kiss to her parted lips, “If I show up on time, it’ll send everyone into a state; they’ll know for sure something’s wrong.” 

Buffy slowly opened her eyes, still breathing heavily from her husband’s thorough attentions. “Cheater,” she said, “That wasn’t fair.” 

“I know,” Angelus smirked and then sighed as she rolled out from under him, standing once more. She didn’t bother to close her robe as she caught herself on unsteady legs, but did try to a glare. It didn’t go off well, she knew she looked well pleasured and glaring now only caused Angelus to laugh. Which he did. Priestess, that man had a talented mouth.

She gave his hand a light yank and he climbed out of bed, following her to the bathroom. “Come on,” she sighed, her body still humming from her orgasms, “Now we’re really late.” 

He didn’t expect this to change, he admitted to himself as Buffy climbed into the waiting tub, smiling her invitation for him to join her. Before he left, and even in the Mortal Realm, he was used to doing as he pleased. Ruling the kingdom meant on his terms, on his time; if he wanted to be late to a meeting, no one complained. If he wanted to ignore the Continuum, they loved him all the more for that, even as they cursed his name. Buffy never before stopped their loving because she was worried about being late, worried about the responsibilities she had. 

Now, that seemed to have changed. 

“It is different,” Buffy admitted as she began washing her hair. She doubted it was true, but she felt as if she had some kind of stink on her body from that realm. “Things changed, I changed things,” she amended, “To better suit my needs. I couldn’t allow anyone, let alone the Continuum, to think I wasn’t capable of running this kingdom. I had the support of my father and Aurelius, but without the Continuum backing me, a coup was likely.” 

“So you ruled like an Ancient,” he said, wondering if it really were possible for the two of them to rule together. He was having a hard time envisioning how. “You made laws and stuck by them, seeing to the people and your role as leader, first. That’s one of the first amendments of our laws.” 

“I know,” she admitted as Angelus rinsed her hair, combing out the strands with a wide-toothed comb. “I read them. You never told me there were rules to running a vampire kingdom, to being an Ancient. You always did what you wanted and it never seemed to matter.” 

Shrugging, Angelus smiled. “I was different. No matter what rules I broke, no one seemed to care. I never understood it myself, but as long as I got away with it, I continued on. It suited me just fine, and when I was happy, everyone else was, too.”

“There are sixteen books of rules to follow!” 

“Really? Huh, I think I only read the first four.” As much as she missed that smirk, Buffy really wanted to wipe it off his handsome face. 

“Until things settle down, until we’re absolutely certain no rebels remain and no one tries to seize the throne because of some perceived tale about you in that Realm, we’re doing things my way.” The look she gave him was no doubt one she’d used on countless ministers and courtiers over the years. He’d seen a similar look before, but it wasn’t so stern, so set. 

The Buffy of before simply asked nicely and things were done to her specifications. Now she forced things, though that might be wrong, Angelus thought as he lathered his own hair. Ahh, how he missed the bathing products of his home. He honestly had no idea how she ruled, and maybe learning that was the first step to ruling together. 

“Can we do this?” Angelus asked abruptly as she climbed out of the tub, holding a towel for him as well. So much for their morning bath loving; he’d have to break Buffy of this whole responsibility thing, make her see things his way. 

“What?” She asked distracted as she looked in the long mirror above the sinks, continuing her daily routine. 

Standing next to her, ignoring his own reflection despite the years he’d gone without it, Angelus looked at his wife. She brushed her teeth, waiting for his answer. The moment she was finished, Angelus turned her to face him. “Buffy, look at me. We have to do this together, you said so yourself. We have to rule together, or it won’t work.” 

“I know,” Buffy nodded and closed her eyes. “I just don’t know how.” 

“Neither do I,” her husband laughed and drew her closer, resting his chin on top of her head. “Last time I ruled, it was absolute. I commanded and everyone obeyed. Including the Continuum. My wife was by my side, but she held only limited duties in the running of the castle and kingdom. When I was in the Mortal Realm, I did as I pleased, with no one to answer to and it was so very similar.” 

Buffy nodded and wanted to interrupt but Angelus continued. “Now you’re telling me that I have to change everything I remember, everything I’ve ever done, just to appease the people I spent my entire existence shunning. I never cared what the Continuum said; I never cared for the treaties with other kingdoms or lands. It was never a concern of mine because I was the most powerful vampire in the Continuum and feared throughout the Lands.” 

“You still are, love,” Buffy assured him with a smile as she pulled back to see his face. “Except now you have to show them that. It’s been forty years since you’ve left, not much changes here, but enough does to give rise to suspicions. My word counts for much, but if they see you, see you haven’t changed, that you’re the same Ancient you used to be, then it’ll go a long way towards pacifying any rumors they wish to start.” 

“All the more reason,” he insisted, “Why we should never be on time to anything. And possibly skip out on the ball.” 

“We can’t,” Buffy admitted with a wry grin. “I’ve always gone to the ball, since you left, and I’m always on time for everything.” At his shocked look, she shrugged. “What, it’s not like I had you here to distract me. So. We go, we show them nothing’s changed, and we’re together and ruling our kingdom as we’ve always done. With some small minor adjustments.” 

“You mean I have to be nice to them.” Angelus said with a frown as he followed Buffy into their main rooms. Their clothing was already laid out, thanks to the ever silent and loyal Cecelia who entered to do just that as they bathed. 

He’d missed his clothes, the hand-made tailored pants and shirts, the softness of the fabrics and the scent. Nothing in the Mortal Realms fit right, no matter how carefully it was made, and nothing smelled right. Or maybe he was simply spoiled and had a biased feeling towards all things in that realm. He made no move to touch the clothes, however, as he watched Buffy’s slim bronzed body as she dressed. 

“You can do it,” Buffy assured him with a smile as she slipped the entirely too tight shirt over her head. Angelus scowled at it, appreciating the look, but hating that everyone else could see her curves in that. “You’re nice to me.” 

“I love you,” he said as he crossed to her closet. Randomly pulling out another shirt, one that looked looser than what she currently wore, Angelus wordlessly handed it to her. 

“What?” Buffy looked at the shirt and then to Angelus’ face. 

“You need to change. That, that….it’s too tight. I won’t have anyone else seeing you like this.” His voice was adamant and his scowl dark and menacing. 

“Angelus, I’m not changing,” Buffy stated as she tossed the shirt onto the bed and rang for Cecelia. “I’ve worn clothes like this for forty years; I’m not changing now because you can’t handle it. Besides,” she smiled as he continued to stand there, scowling, “Only you’ve seen me in less.” 

That somehow didn’t help. But it was too late and Cecelia entered the room. They never argued in front of others, no matter the circumstances. The maid bowed deeply at Angelus, smiling when Buffy called her over. “’Tis good to have you back, milord.” 

“Cecelia,” Angelus said, scowl still prominent. He must be losing his touch, the maid only smiled wider. 

‘Finish dressing, lover, I think Cecelia’s seen enough of your body for one day.’ At his startled look, Buffy laughed, and Angelus realized he still wore the towel tied around his waist. Why, he wondered as he dropped the towel and slid on his pants, had they not taken that vacation again? He thought it was a fine idea, but Buffy had other plans. Like this ridiculous ball. 

“Cecelia, have Willow’s needs been seen to?” Buffy asked as the vampiress braided her still damp hair. 

“Aye, milady, I selected her dress myself. She seemed nervous about the choice; I take it she’s not used to wearing such garments.” 

“She’ll get used to it, don’t worry. Is Drusilla ready?” 

“Aye, she and My Lord William are outside the door, awaiting your permission.” 

“Excellent, send them in.” 

With one final twist, and several added jeweled clips, Cecelia bowed out and motioned William and Drusilla to enter. By then Angelus was dressed and had finished his morning ablutions. He still wasn’t happy, about several things, but there wasn’t time to argue about them now. 

But there was one thing he could do. Stopping Cecelia as she left, he told her to clean out Buffy’s closet, keeping the majority of the clothing, but regulating many of the too-tight (in his opinion) garments to rags. “I know her tastes have changed, that’s fine,” he told the loyal maid. “But I want her body covered. Understood?” 

Drusilla floated in with a smile on her face. “Daddy’s home, pet,” she said to William as Cecelia left, agreeing to his demands. Dru embraced her Sire, kissing him on the mouth in welcome. “The next circle has begun, the players are all set and the stage is theirs.” 

William nodded to her, smiling at Angelus and Buffy, while making a mental note as to what his Dru said. He’d have to remember to tell Gunn, Oz, Theophilus, and Darla…no, not Darla. Damn, even after everything, William felt a twinge of regret and grief over her death. How ironic was that and, maybe, how fitting. 

“Come along, Dru, we’ve breakfast to attend.” 

Buffy smiled at her friends and walked to take Angelus’ arm as he followed them to the door. “Has there been any word, William?” 

“No, majesty, not a peep since we arrived yesterday. It seems everything truly is as quiet as reports indicated. Makes me nervous.” 

He opened the door and bowed as Angelus and Buffy preceded him out. Gunn and Oz stood at full attention, the vampire walking ahead of the couple, the elf behind, as they made their way to the East Salon where the intimate meal was being served.
~~~~~~~~~~
Willow sat in the gardens, under some kind of flowering tree, trying to take everything in. She wasn’t having much luck. And her dress made her feel like some kind of Cinderella imposter. 

She decided not to tell Cordelia about the dress, the other woman  really would be jealous. 

She’d been here less than a day and already she felt overwhelmed. There was the dinner/feast last night that showed her just a little of what she was getting herself into. The whole night was like some kind of grand to-do with her as the gauche witness. Willow had no idea Angelus was so used to that kind of thing, that he ruled that way. It was unbelievable. 

And today, this morning, at breakfast, with Buffy; she and Angelus arrived late, but no one seemed to think that was out of the norm. Willow could go with that. They had some kind of weird, silent conversation she wasn’t privy too, but again, no one seemed to think that odd. Okay, again, Willow had no idea – obviously – about what really went on in this kingdom or between Angelus and Buffy. It was when Tara and Drusilla started planning her tutoring that she started to hyperventilate. 

Willow knew why she agreed to move to this land with Tara, and it was because of the tutoring. But when the specifics were laid out in front of her, Willow froze. Not because it wasn’t what she wanted, but because it was all so over her head. Everything the two talked about, Willow didn’t understand. 

She really was a novice at all this, and wondered why, with two beings so obviously immersed in magicks and good at them, why they’d want her. 

Which brought her to the bench in the garden. She needed to calm herself and think about what she wanted. 

“I thought I’d find you here.” 

Looking up into the sunlight, Willow smiled. “Oz,” she said and scooted down on the bench so he could sit next to her. “How did you find me?” 

“I’m the First to the Queen,” he said then smiled. “I asked Lamar where you were.” 

“The guard from last night?” Willow asked, struggling to put a face with the name. She’d met a lot of people already, and it was kind of a blur. “Wait, he followed me today?” She hadn’t noticed. 

“Of course. You’re a guest, which entitles you to your own guard.” 

“Oh. So, ah, what did you, I mean, why did you follow me?” 

Sitting, Oz stretched his legs out in front of him, silent for a moment. Facing her, he admitted, “I wanted to speak with you. I know Tara is excited to begin your training, and wants to leave immediately, but I want to spend some time with you.” 

“Really? Good, I mean, ah, okay.” 

“You’re nervous,” he said and smiled at that. “Why?” 

“They expect so much of me,” Willow surprised herself in admitting. “She and Drusilla were talking this morning at breakfast about all these things, and I only understood about half of them. They seemed so ready to teach me but I’m still not sure I’m the right one.” 

“Are you nervous,” Oz questioned, “Because you’re unsure of your abilities, or because you’re in a strange land with strangers who want to teach you things you’ve only ever dreamed of?” 

How was it, Willow wondered as she looked at the elf, that he could boil everything down so quickly and easily? Sure, she knew she was stalling, and that the real reason she was so nervous and scared was because she was new, was the stranger, was supposedly this panicle person in some destiny-vision thing. It was nerve-wracking. 

“Why do they believe in me so much?” 

“Elves,” Oz said slowly, trying to figure a way to tell her this without scaring her away, “Are highly magickal creatures. Even the weakest of us knows another magick user on sight. When Tara met you, it confirmed her vision; Drusilla is a seer and when Tara told her of that vision, they knew it was you.” 

“Oh, so they’re really just…excited over everything?” Willow still wasn’t so sure, but the limited explanation Oz presented was better than the anxiety she’d worked herself into. It was nice to have a calming influence. “What if I’m not as powerful as they think?” Oz went to object, but Willow cut him off. “What if I’m not, just hypothetically speaking.” 

“Then they’ll still teach you, that changes nothing. Any user, Willow, no matter how strong or not, can only learn to the limits of their ability. There is no going beyond that, no matter what the apprentice may want.” 

Not having anything to say to that, Willow just smiled at Oz. That was all good to hear. That way, even if Tara and Drusilla wanted her to learn more, there was no way she could. Willow never thought she’d be happy at limits on her learning, but in this instance, couldn’t see a down side to that. She wondered if she’d change her mind in the future. 

“Stay with me for the week,” Oz said suddenly, interrupting Willow’s thoughts. 

“What?” 

“Don’t return immediately with Tara and Dru, stay with me the week. I can’t,” he admitted, “Spend all week with you, but maybe we can get to know each other better. Just so,” he fumbled, unable to believe he was handling this conversation so poorly. Where was the smoothness he used to have with words? Gone, he admitted, gone in the face of this innocent eyed human woman. 

“Stay just so we get to know each other, if you think you want to leave before the week’s up, that’s fine, I certainly won’t stop you. But I want to get to know you better, Willow of Los Angeles. I want to know the woman who helped the slayer for years and who’s going to learn about the inherent magicks within her.” 

He was close again, and Willow knew she could lean forward, kiss him, and he wouldn’t object. She thought of dong just that, but couldn’t bring her courage to the fore enough. He smiled at her as if he knew what she was thinking and Willow blushed, looking down at the flowerbed behind the bench.

Looking up again and smiling, she did lean in then, and kissed the elf. It was as warm and heady as their last kiss the previous night. Willow slipped her hands in his hair, combing her nails through the gelled locks. Long breathless minutes later, she pulled away, or maybe he did? Willow didn’t know but she smiled at him, eyes half closed as she looked at his flushed bronzed face. 

“Okay,” she said, “I’d like to get to know you, too, Oz.”
~~~~~~~~~~
Rupert and Tara left the next day. 

Rupert had been gone too long as it was, leaving his kingdom. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust his eldest, but Rupert figured Kynan shouldn’t have to deal with the mechanizations of the elfin people for longer than a week until he was king. Then again, no one should, no matter their title. 

Tara missed her husband and children and welcomed this brief interlude. She wanted to spend time with them before working with Willow, knowing that once they started, the teaching and learning, for the both of them, would be time consuming. She also saw the way the redhead looked at Oz, and hoped that this time together would foster something that would, hopefully, lead to the ending she saw in her vision. 

Drusilla agreed to stay behind and supervise any magicks Willow wanted to learn about. It also gave her time to be home for a week after the traveling she’d done with Buffy and Ariana for the Continuum. 

It was several hours after the elfin party left that Willow found herself in the Library. The moment she walked in, she knew she was in heaven. All four walls were lined top to bottom with books of every shape and size, some that looked older than time and others that looked to be more recent additions.

”I’m telling you, Andre, it’s in Old Elf!” Ariana’s voice rang out as Willow shut the door behind her. 

“Oh, hi, uh…sorry,” Willow apologized, “I didn’t mean to interrupt, I just wanted some reading material.” 

“No, it’s okay,” Ariana said and waved the timid woman into the room with a smile. “What were you interested in reading?” 

“Um…anything,” Willow admitted with a smile as she scanned the room, “Everything. The library is huge; I could spend the rest of my life in here and still not get to all the books!” 

Andre chuckled, standing. “How about something simple to start you off with,” the vampire offered, “The history of the Lands?” 

“Sure!” Willow readily agreed. She had hours to kill before Oz finished his duties to Buffy and didn’t know what else to do with herself that would keep her out of everyone’s way and out of trouble. 

“Andre,” Ariana scolded even as she pointed to a wall, drawing Willow’s gaze there. “Pay him no mind, Willow, the history of the Lands span over a hundred volumes.” 

Undaunted, though her eyes did widen considerably, Willow shrugged. “Where’s part one?” 

Andre went to fetch the required volume, while Ariana asked her how she was settling in. Willow was about to reply when her eyes caught the book on the table. That must’ve been what they were discussing when she entered the room, Willow figured. 

“Ah, The Yggadrasil. It’s the oldest books in existence,” Ariana told the human, careful not to reveal where they’d obtained the copy. She still wanted to know where that Watcher got the book, but couldn’t figure a safe way of asking him. And if he didn’t know what it was, all the better. 

“Really?” Willow asked, tracing the wording carefully about an inch from the actual cover. “May the Knowledge of the Ages bring Peace to the Lands,” she read and smiled up at the woman before her. “Can this book really bring peace to the land?” 

Willow’s smile faded as she saw the look Ariana and Andre gave her. She hadn’t touched the book, she thought frantically, and she really didn’t’ know what was inside the pages, so what…? 

“You can read that?” Andre asked as he set volume one of the History of the Lands on the table next to The Yggadrasil. 

“Uh…yes?” 

Flipping carefully to the first page, Ariana pointed to a passage. She thought it looked like Old Elf, and said ‘Beware the Secrets of time, Only those with the knowledge of War can ever truly acquire Peace’. Andre thought it was Ancient Vampiric, a dialect mostly wiped out by the Continuum long before, and said something like, ‘Peace is only ever found Through War and only those with the knowledge of Both can Win’. 

Similar in nature, but still very different. 

“When the Wars are ended and Peace Sought,” Willow said with a frown, “Only then can those Who Survive…those who live? Hmm, Only then can Prosperity be Brought to the Lands.” 

“What language are you reading, Willow?” Andre asked as he shared a look with his betrothed. 

“It’s some strange form of Latin, Hebrew, and something else. I don’t know. The symbols keep changing, but I can still read it.” 

“What would you say,” Ariana asked as she sat, hard, in the chair nearest the table. “If I told you you’re the only one who can really read this?” 

“Uh, good?”
~~~~~~~~~~
It became her project during the times she wasn’t with Oz. 

Every spare moment, and often long into the night, Willow sat in the library and painstakingly translated the text. It took her a week to accurately translate the first page. The only time she didn’t obsess over the book, its meaning, why she was the only one who could read it, or mostly read it, and where it came from, was when she was with Oz. 

The elf had a very pleasurable way of making her forget everything, including her name. 

“Go to bed, Willow,” Oz said on her last night in Aurelius. “It’s late, and you and Drusilla are leaving with the dawn.” 

“Okay,” she agreed as she put the parchment she’d started her translation on into the leather folder and closed the books she was using. Standing, Willow stretched her back, rubbing her tired eyes, and trying to stifle a yawn. She hadn’t realized, when she started, that translating The Yggadrasil would be so difficult. It never took Wesley that long to translate anything they came across. 

“Oz,” she asked as they walked down the hallway to her room. They were in front of the door, no guard in sight. She was leaving in the morning, and didn’t know when she was returning. Or if she was. Or much of anything, really, except that she wanted the handsome man before her more than she’d ever wanted anything. “Stay with me?” 

The First nodded and they entered her quarters. The second the door was closed, Oz kissed her, and Willow effectively forgot everything but the man who held her so tenderly in his arms.
~~~~~~~~~~
Both Angelus and Buffy were there to see her off the next morning and Willow felt slightly guilty for not being a better guest and socializing with them more. What she was supposed to do, she had no idea, but she was sure barricading herself in the library wasn’t on the list. 

Angelus stood off to the side. Willow didn’t want to approach him, but did want to say bye. Buffy saved her the trouble of figuring out how, when she walked with her husband to where Willow awkwardly stood. 

“May your journey be safe, Willow, and may we see you again before too long.” 

“Thank you, B…my queen. I look forward to returning, as well.” 

Buffy was sure of that, as she watched Willow climb uncomfortably onto the horse next to Drusilla. The looks the human shared with Oz couldn’t be missed. As the group moved out of the courtyard and onto the road that led to the Elfin Kingdom, Buffy turned to her husband. 

‘I have a feeling she’ll be back before long. Did you see the looks she sent Oz?’  

Angelus laughed as they returned to the castle proper. ‘I’m quite familiar with those looks, lover,’ he said as he led her back to their rooms instead of the Minister meeting they were supposed to be attending. 

With practiced ease, Angelus ignored his wife’s protests about being late to the meeting, and proceeded to show her – again – how much he missed her.

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